Neill



- (No Model.)

J. W. McNEILL.

HARNESS 'ATTAGHMENT. No. 478,124. Patented July 5, 1892.

'Wifgcsscs 1930,9161 6 J. WMVA/w-zz UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WILLIAM MONEILL, OF FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.-

HARNESS ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,124, dated July 5,1892.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WILLIAM Mo- N EILL,a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fayetteville, in the county of Cumberland and Stateof North Carolina, haveinvented a new and useful Harness Attachment, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harness attachments, and has especialreference to a device applied to opposite ends of a singletree or awhiftletree for the purpose of preventing the traces from .becomingdisengaged and the reins from being caught under the ends of the same,as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Theobject of this'invention is to provide means whereby a trace may bequickly attached to a singletree or a whiflietree and readily removedtherefrom, when desired, without any undue manipulation ofcomplexmechanism and still preserve an advantageous and beneficialsecuring means.

In the drawings, Figure l'is a perspective view of a whifiletree and aportion of traces, showing the improved attachment in connectiontherewith and in looking position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing theattachment raised for the purpose of detaching the traces. Fig. 3 is adetailed perspective View of the improved attachmen Similar numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a metallicspring-strip constructed of suitable length and havingopenings 2 thereinfor the purpose of securing the samein position. The said openings 2 aresituated near the inner end of the strip 1, and at the opposite end isformed a loop 3, which has its outer portion depending below the planeof the strip 1 and the terminating end 4 thereof bent outward atsubstantially a right angle, to which is secured a stout or stiff strap5. The strip 1 lies on the top of the sin gletree or whiflletree 6, andthe loop 3 normally depends over the cockeye 7, with the strap 5extending at an angle under the end of the singletree or whiffietree.

In connecting the trace the terminating end 4 is used as a finger-piece;to raise the strip 1 and clearthe loop 3 from the cockeye Applicationfiled April 7; 1892- Serial No. 428,147. (No model.)

7. The trace end is then fitted over the cockeye and the striplpermitted to snap back into its normal position, thereby bringing theloop 3 over the end of the cockcye and the attached portion of the traceto securely hold the latter in connected position. Owing to thedepending strap 5, the reins dropping below the singletree orwhiiiletree would bear against said strap and be prevented from catchingon the end of the singletree or whiflietree when raised, as will bereadily apparent.

The advantages of a device of this character are manifold, and owing tothe simplicity of construction of the several parts the device entire iscomparatively inexpensive, and thereby cheaply manufactured.

The metallic spring-strip may be readily shaped and arranged to fit an yform of singletree other than that shown without in the least departingfrom the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is'claimed as new is 1. Thecombination, with a singletree or whifi'let-ree, of a metallicspring-strip secured at its inner end and having a loop at its outer endadapted to fit over the cockeye, and a flexible strap of leather securedto the outer end of said strip, said strap normally extending inward atan oblique angle and unattached at its free end, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture. a locking device for traceends, consisting of a spring metallic strip secured at its inner andhaving a loop at the outer end thereof, with a terminating portionextending in a plane substantially parallel with the main body of thestrip, and a flexible strap of leather connected to said terminatingportion, said strap normally extending inward at an 0blique angle andunattached at its free end, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES WILLIAM MONEILL.

Witnesses:

O. L. TAYLOR, J. T. DENNY.

